Check your blind spots! Self-awareness is the (oft-overlooked) personality trait you need to become your best self
I have a friend who always worries about being self-aware. "Am I missing something?" she'd often ask. As friends, we'd go over every situation together to try and point out blind spots: things we should have considered, points of view that could change our perspective. In life, it's easy to become narrow-minded—so often, we place more importance on our own feelings that we miss out on what others see.
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A study published in Europe's Journal of Psychology defines self-awareness as "the extent to which people are consciously aware of their internal states and their interactions or relationships with others". Branching out from the definition, a person can be self-aware in two ways: internally and externally. According to Dr Tasha Eurich of the Harvard Business Review, internal self-awareness is how clearly we see our own selves—values, beliefs, passions, aspirations and all. Meanwhile, external self-awareness is how conscious we are of how others view those in us.
Archetypes of Self-Awareness
How we see ourselves and how others see us is incredibly important to our own development. Research has shown that most, if not all, successful leaders are self-aware. This often-overlooked trait can further increase our happiness by teaching us, in a very personal way, how to maintain harmonious relationships, how to successfully climb the ladder in our industries, and how secure we feel in our own choices and lifestyles.
Considering the two kinds of self-awareness, Dr Eurich now asserts that there are four archetypes of awareness personalities. Those who have high internal self-awareness and high external self-awareness are considered "aware": they know who they are, what they want, and seek out others' opinions. They also have the best chance to become successful.
Those who have high internal self-awareness but low external self-awareness are called "introspectors". Though they know themselves quite well, they often don't realise how they come across to others; they will often avoid criticism or refuse to believe in it. This can limit them in their career opportunities and even in personal relationships, especially during times of disagreements.
People with low internal and external self-awareness are termed as "seekers". These are often those who feel lost within themselves because they aren't sure who they are, what they stand for, or even how others may see them. This can lead to feelings of frustration or stagnancy.
Lastly, those who have low internal self-awareness but high external self-awareness are called "pleasers". They may be too focused on external validation and support without taking the time to fully understand who they are to themselves or what they want. Those who are in this category are in danger of making choices that may benefit those around them, but not themselves.
